Chaplaincy Program
Mission Statement
The mission of the Chaplaincy Program is to extend ministry to all students, staff, faculty, and administration for the express purpose of facilitating the personal spiritual unfolding of individuals.
Spirituality in this context refers to seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. It includes the development
of a deep appreciation for the depth and expanse of life and the natural forces that exist in the universe. It also involves the development of personal values and ethics.
Working Together for a Better World!
The University of Rio Grande provides nondiscriminatory educational opportunities for the pursuit of academic excellence. The educational experience provides opportunities to develop a balance of intellectual, aesthetic, social and physical qualities; in addition, the University strives to assist the student in meeting their emotional and spiritual needs, all of which characterize the total human experience.
Of the University’s mission, the Chaplaincy Program assists the student in the development of the spiritual dimension of their person. The Chaplaincy provides an unbiased, non-sectarian approach to spirituality.
Camplaincy Program Introduction
Greetings to the Rio Family,
Some of you already know me from my time as a Rio Grande student or as an adjunct faculty member having taught World Civ. I, World Civ. II, Introduction to Social Science and now the Principles of Geography courses. A few of you might remember me as a team member brought in nearly a decade ago when Ed Sofranko, as well as Barry & Judy Thompson, helped to settle the question of the birthplace of the fictional Star Trek character Montgomery Scott. Currently, I am still an adjunct & a member of the Archives Commission. Now I am permitted to serve the Rio family in a further capacity: coordinator of the Chaplaincy Program.
A moment should be taken to thank my predecessor, Marshall Kimmel, for his efforts in guiding the program during his tenure as coordinator. May I prove to be a worthy successor to him!
The new members of the Rio family may be unfamiliar with the URG Chaplaincy Program. The on-going mission of the program is to extend ministry to all students, staff, faculty & administration for the express purpose of facilitating the personal spiritual unfolding of the individual. The program does not seek to enforce doctrine or serve as an established church. The volunteer chaplains in the program, of course, are bound by the established tenants of their particular denominations. They are free to minister to the needs of those seeking spiritual help in ways that do not conflict with the articles of faith for their individual denominations. The volunteer chaplains maintain the same First Amendment rights to the free exercise of religion, as do all U.S. citizens.
Colleges, at their best, are designed to be a free marketplace of ideas & students may encounter ideas, some of which they may have never before heard of or considered. The faculty are charged with educating the mind. The chaplains are available for those students who, if they so choose, want to explore spiritual matters.
Perhaps the best advice the volunteer chaplains could relay as a general invocation for the Rio family upon the impending start of the Fall Semester would be from an ancient source: King Solomon, whose words are recorded in Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
It is appropriate that a college established to train Baptist ministers in 1876 still recognizes the value of individual spiritual growth in the Twenty-First Century.
Regards,
William E. Plants
Who We Are
- We do not bring God to the campus: rather, we affirm and celebrate a God who is always and everywhere present.
- We will not tell you how to live; rather, we will discuss and explore life’s options. Knowing who you are is the challenge of university life and we welcome the opportunity to join with you in the journey of discovery.
- We believe that all human beings have been created spiritual with spiritual needs, and our purpose is to serve students at the University of Rio Grande by helping them meet those needs in a very real and tangible way.
- We help meet those needs by pursuing a friendship and providing a listening ear from someone who cares. We also offer Bible studies, counseling, residence hall programs, and other activities.
- We exist because we believe that dialog and friendship between different faiths is both necessary and good.
Chaplaincy Statements
Chaplaincy Statements
LatestChaplaincy Christmas Statement 2021
On behalf of the Chaplains in the URG Chaplaincy, I wish the members of the Rio Family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This year is the 300th anniversary of the publication of the French hymn “Noel Nou Velet, Noel...
Archived Statements
- Veteran’s Day Statement 2020
- September 11: 19th Anniversary Statement
- National Day of Prayer Statement 2020
- Holocaust Memorial Day Statement 2020
- Christmas 2019 Statement
- Thanksgiving Statement 2019
- Veteran’s Day Statement 2019
- September 11th: 18th Anniversary Statement
- Holocaust Memorial Day 2019
- Christmas 2018 Statement
- Thanksgiving 2018 Statement
- Veteran’s Day 2018 Statement
- September 11th Statement 2018
- Veteran’s Day Statement
- September 11th: 16th Anniversary Statement
- Holocaust Memorial Day 2017
- Christmas 2016 Statement
- Thanksgiving 2016 Statement
- Holocaust Memorial Day 2016
- Christmas 2015 Statement
- Christmas 2014 Statement
- September 11th Statement
Services
The volunteers give their time to minister to the needs of individuals, regardless of tradition or faith. The ministry will seek to provide services in the following ways.
Counseling
Personal problem solving and support is offered to students and others in the University. Everyone is invited to stop by the Volunteer Chaplaincy office or make an appointment by calling (740) 245-7199.
Academic Life
The ministry will provide resources upon request in the classroom setting, encourage development of religious studies and course offerings, and other appropriate involvement in the teaching-learning arena.
Student Life
The ministry will seek to create opportunities to enrich student life by cooperating with student groups such as the Student Government Association, and for personal growth by providing small group encounters, Bible study groups, lectures, and other special activities.
Chaplain Appointments By Arrangement
Contact Us
| Title | Name | Organization | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pastor | Ron Bynum | Rodney Pike Church of God | 740-245-9518 |
| Pastor | Julio F. Camacho | Bucyrus Church of God of Prophecy | 740-978-2000 |
| Pastor | Jeremy Hollingshead | Faith Lutheran Church | (740) 571-2383 |
| Pastor | John Jackson | New Life Lutheran | 740-446-4889 |
| Pastor | Thom Mollohan | Pathway Community | 740-245-9664 |
| Elder | Paul Sebastian | St. Louis Catholic Church | 740-446-0669 |
| Pastor | Jamie Sisson | Fellowship of Faith Church | 740-709-6750 |
| Chaplain | Fred Williams | Holzer Hospital | 740-446-5053 |
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy
Under Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity operated by the University of Rio Grande or Rio Grande Community College ("Rio Grand"). Title IX ensures equal access to those programs and activities for our students and employees of all gender identities. Rio Grande is dedicated to providing a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.
It is the policy of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College not to discriminate on the basis of gender in the educational programs, activities, or
employment policies as required by Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX may be directed to the Affirmative Action Office of the University and the Community College, (740) 245-7228, or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C.
Furthermore, the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College affirm that policies and practices relating to housing, academic and social life, and employment are applied without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, genetic information, gender identity, genetic information, religion, disability, age, marital status, national or ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, veteran status, political affiliation. or other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law. Inquires in this regard should be directed to the President of the University of Rio Grande or Rio Grande Community College.